Keep the Old, Skip the New: Americans Commit to Car Care & Reap Savings

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(Grassroots Newswire) The best investment you can make for 2009 just might be your old car. According to the Wall Street Journal, purchases of new automobiles have plummeted with the economic downturn, but the auto repair business is booming, with everyone from small local shops to larger chains such as Meineke, seeing an upswing in business. Increasing numbers of U.S. car owners are deciding to keep their existing cars and are turning to car maintenance as a way to save money.

"As people put off buying new cars, we are seeing cars with higher mileage come into our shop," says Don Rauch, director of dealer communications for Meineke Car Care Centers. "Many people are surprised to learn that a car can be perfectly healthy over 100,000 miles. A few regularly scheduled services can keep you on the road for years, and improve your gas mileage. It can be a very smart economic decision to hold on to your car.

"Obviously, the key to making your existing car worthwhile is to maintain the car," he continues. "Putting off scheduled maintenance to save money will just create bigger problems down the road. A fairly simple maintenance plan is really all that's required."

Automotive experts emphasize the same basic maintenance plan:

• Change your engine oil regularly. Recommendations range from 3,000 miles to 5,000 miles and vary from car to car.
• Maintain proper tire pressure and wheel alignment to help tires last longer.
• Replace fluids in the transmission, cooling system and power-steering every two years to help minimize wear.
• Change your hoses, joints and timing belts according to the manufacturer's recommendations (Yes, these are in that thick manual that usually collects dust in the glove box.) Although timing belt replacement is costly, the alternative is worse. A broken belt can severely damage your engine.
• Keep your car clean to prevent corrosion.

At Meineke, customers can choose from packages that provide everything from economical options to keep you safely on the road, to "supreme" overhauls that essentially make the car like new.